North Korea

Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

North Korea was formed after Japan relinquished its 35-year occupation of the Korean Peninsula at the end of World War II. The East Asian nation established its independence in 1948, splitting from South Korea in a battle over sovereignty that triggered the Korean War in 1950 and that remains a source of tension between the two countries to this day. Since its founding, North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family, currently headed by Kim Jong-un, under a state-run socialist government that many consider to be a Stalinist dictatorship. The family’s dedication to Songun, or a military-first policy, has led the isolated, impoverished and often famine-stricken nation to pursue a nuclear weapons program, incurring sanctions and worldwide condemnation.

Learn more about North Korea. Scroll below to view our archive of articles and chronology of latest news.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 11, 2015

South Korean Government announces that fears of severe drought in North Korea have abated due to rainfall reaching 90 percent of normal for June. MORE

Jul. 10, 2015

Website run by Johns Hopkins University's US-Korea institute charges that North Korean pesticide factory may be used to produce biological weapons; claim are based on photos of Kim Jong-un’s visit to Pyongyang Biotechnical Institute, where he examined equipment allegedly used to make military-size batches of anthrax. MORE

Jul. 8, 2015

Three North Korean sailors tell South Korean officials they want to defect after their ship strays into South Korean waters due to engine problems. MORE

Jun. 24, 2015

North Korea sentences Kim Guk-gi and Choe Chun-gil, to life sentence of hard labor, accusing them of spying for South Korea. MORE

Jun. 18, 2015

North Korea's state news agency says 30 percent of rice paddies in country are drying up due to worst drought experienced in 100 years. MORE

Jun. 16, 2015

Teenage soldier is first North Korean serviceman to defect to South Korea in three years, crossing border near Hwacheon; cites widespread beatings and other military abuses as reason for defecting. MORE

Jun. 12, 2015

Chinese troops shoot and kill someone suspected of illegally crossing border from North Korea; incident occurs in Helong, area prone to unlawful border crossings by North Korean defectors or soldiers. MORE

Jun. 6, 2015

Saturday Profile of North Korean defector Jang Yeong-jin, whose autobiographical novel A Mark of Red Honor disclosed his experiences as gay man growing up in the totalitarian country; Jang says that his struggle with his identity continued in South Korea, where homosexuality remains taboo. MORE

Jun. 4, 2015

South Korea's Defense Ministry announces successful test-firing of its first ballistic missile with range to hit any North Korean target. MORE

May. 28, 2015

Senior nuclear envoys of United States, Japan and South Korea agree to increase pressure on North Korea to curtail its nuclear weapons ambitions and improve its human rights record through effective and creative enforcement of sanctions. MORE

May. 28, 2015

Serge Schmemann Editorial Notebook reflects on march across demilitarized zone into South Korea by Gloria Steinem and other women leaders who are seeking peace treaty with North Korea; observes while effort is well-intentioned, it will likely have little effect; argues North and South Korea are not equally culpable, and that peace will likely not be achieved until collapse of dictatorship in North. MORE

May. 25, 2015

Group of 30 female peace activists marches through demilitarized zone from North Korea to South Korea to call for formal end to Korean War; unresolved hostilities from war have continued to plague two countries; protest march marks rare moment of agreement between countries in allowing event to proceed. MORE

May. 21, 2015

North Korea's claim that it has constructed nuclear weapons small enough to be carried by missiles is questioned by American and South Korean officials; some analysts say missile test photos released by North Korea to substantiate announcement may have been altered. MORE

May. 20, 2015

Group of female peace advocates, including Gloria Steinem and two Nobel laureates, arrive in Pyongyang for march across Korean Demilitarized Zone. MORE

May. 20, 2015

United Nations Sec Gen Ban Ki-moon says North Korea has suddenly withdrawn its approval for him to enter country to visit an industrial park that South Korea jointly operates with the North. MORE

May. 16, 2015

South Korean Pres Park Geun-hye warns of growing uncertainty in region due to North Korea's hostilities along two countries' border, days after reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un executed one of his top generals. MORE

May. 14, 2015

North Korea, in previously announced military drill, fires dozens of artillery shells into waters near its disputed western sea border with South Korea. MORE

May. 14, 2015

South Korean intelligence service reports that North Korean military leader Gen Hyon Yong-chol has been executed, but analysts question authenticity of report; Hyon's execution, if verified, would be most prominent purge of a government official since 2013 execution of Jang Song-Thaek, uncle of leader Kim Jong-un. MORE

May. 13, 2015

South Korean intelligence officials say North Korea has executed Gen Hyon Yong-chol, its second-highest officer, for traitorous behavior by disrespecting Kim Jong-un. MORE

May. 9, 2015

North Korea announces that test-firing of ballistic missile from submarine was successful, which, if confirmed, raises new challenge for United States and allies in the region like South Korea and Japan. MORE

May. 8, 2015

News Analysis; satellite images taken from 2010 to 2012 show that size of nuclear enrichment plant in Yongbyon, North Korea, doubled in size; many American officials believe North most likely possesses more than dozen nuclear weapons; Republicans and Israeli officials and warn that similar situation will happen in Iran if verifiable deal is not made. MORE

May. 6, 2015

Joo Won-moon, South Korean student at New York University who is being held by North Korea, says in interview he entered country intending to be arrested, with hopes of improving relations between two countries. MORE

May. 3, 2015

North Korea says it has arrested South Korean citizen and New York University student Joo Won-moon and charged him with illegally entering country; Joo admits violating North Korean law. MORE

May. 1, 2015

Russian officials say that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not attend May 2015 Moscow celebration of Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany; Interfax news agency reports what would have been Kim's first trip abroad since assuming power was cancelled due to 'internal Korean affairs.' MORE

Apr. 30, 2015

South Korea's intelligence service reports North Korea has executed 15 high-ranking government officials in 2015, including two vice ministers who disagreed with decisions made by leader Kim Jong-un; agency says it believes 68 senior officials have been executed under Kim's orders between 2012 and 2014. MORE

Apr. 25, 2015

Activists say both North Korea and South Korea are supporting peace walk across demilitarized zone by prominent women, including Gloria Steinem. MORE

Apr. 24, 2015

Pentagon unveils new cyberwarfare policies that for first time name circumstances under which cyberweapons could be deployed against attackers; names China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as greatest threats. MORE

Apr. 22, 2015

Advocacy group Committee to Protect Journalists says strict control over freedom of expression and thought in Eritrea and North Korea places them at top of list of world's 10 most censored countries. MORE

Apr. 17, 2015

North Korea allows foreign amateur runners to participate in Pyongyang Marathon, 10-kilometer race or half-marathon, all presented with great spectacle and ceremony in celebration of former leader Kim Il-sung. MORE

Apr. 16, 2015

Family of South Korean pastor and American resident Kim Dong-shik wins $330 million lawsuit against North Korean government for orchestrating Kim's kidnapping and presumed murder in northeastern China in 2000; judgement overturns previous dismissals of case for lack of evidence; North Korea denies involvement and is unlikely to willingly pay. MORE

Apr. 11, 2015

Op-Ed article by policy experts Prof Robert L Gallucci and Joel S Wit disputes critics' argument that failure of 1994 nuclear deal with North Korea, and its subsequent efforts to build bombs, set dangerous precedent for Iranian nuclear deal; faults lack of sustained diplomacy for breakdown of North Korea deal, saying deal helped to delay development of weapons; urges diplomatic strategy for dealing with challenges that will inevitably follow Iran deal. MORE

Apr. 10, 2015

North Korea fires two short-range missiles off its western coast two days before United States Defense Sec Ashton B Carter makes scheduled trip to South Korea for security talks. MORE

Mar. 27, 2015

North Korea arrests South Korean men Kim Guk-gi and Choe Chun-gil on espionage charges. MORE

Mar. 12, 2015

Russian Foreign Ministry announces agreement with North Korea to declare 2015 'Year of Friendship' between countries; declaration, which follows confirmation that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Moscow in May, highlights countries' growing diplomatic ties and strained relations with West. MORE

Mar. 12, 2015

Thirty female activists are planning walk across demilitarized zone between North and South Korea to call for permanent peace treaty to replace 1953 armistice that stopped Korean War; nations have not approved event, planned for May 24 International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament. MORE

Mar. 10, 2015

Marzuki Darusman, United Nations investigator and special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, calls for international action to force North Korea to account for hundreds of missing foreign citizens believed to have been abducted by North Korean agents. MORE

Mar. 10, 2015

Bangladesh officials expel Son Young-nam, first secretary of North Korean Embassy, for attempting to smuggle $1.4 million in gold into Dhaka; tight international sanctions restrict North Korea's ability to move money by conventional means. MORE

Mar. 6, 2015

Rev Lim Hyeon-soo, pastor of Korean church in suburban Toronto, is reportedly being held by North Korean government after he failed to return from humanitarian mission there. MORE

Mar. 3, 2015

North Korea launches two Scud-type ballistic missiles towards the sea between Korean Peninsula and Japan as United States and South Korea begin annual joint military drills; United Nations resolutions ban the North from testing ballistic-missile technology. MORE

Feb. 27, 2015

Editorial warns North Korea could be on path to have 100 nuclear weapons by 2020, according to experts Joel Wit and David Albright; cautions that North Korea's production of high numbers of weapons is likely to result in sales of the weapons to other nations; urges Obama administration and other global powers to take stronger action to curb North Korea's missile and weapon production. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

Human rights group NK Watch has collected testimony from 13 former North Korean workers illustrating how country sends its citizens abroad to work long hours in return for badly needed foreign currency; group has petitioned United Nations to investigate practice that they dub 'state-sponsored slavery.' MORE

Feb. 9, 2015

South Korea reports the North Korea has fired five short-range missiles off its coast. MORE

Feb. 8, 2015

North Korea reports that it has successfully launched new antiship missile. MORE

Feb. 6, 2015

China formally detains Kevin Garratt, Canadian man tied to Christian group providing aid to North Koreans across border from China, on suspicion of stealing state secrets; releases the man's wife after holding the couple for six months without charge. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

United Nations special investigator Marzuki Darusman, who has been tasked with looking into human rights abuses in North Korea, says in interview that ruling Kim family has to be replaced in order to break up country's network of prison camps; Darusman cites cult leadership system as impediment to ending abuses. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

December 2014 incident in which North Korean soldier crossed border into northeastern China and fatally shot two older Chinese couples has alarmed Chinese officials and come to represent strained relations between countries; officials say soldier likely slipped across border to steal food, raising questions over North Korea's treatment of its armed forces. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

South Korean Pres Lee Myung-bak says in his memoir that he rejected North Korea's demands for $10 billion aid package in exchange for talks in 2009, because he wanted to break pattern of rewarding North simply for agreeing to talk; book is scheduled for publication in February 2015. MORE

Jan. 29, 2015

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is planning to visit Moscow in May, hoping to strengthen ties between nations whose relations with west have faltered; visit will mark Kim's first trip abroad since coming to power in 2011. MORE

{"type":"article","show_header_text":false,"header":"ARTICLES ABOUT NORTH KOREA","query":"(geo like \"North Korea\" or geo like \"(North Korea)\") and tom!=\"Editorial\" and tom!=\"Correction\" and tom!=\"Obituary\" and tom!=\"paid death notice\" and hdl!=\"paid notice\" and tom!=\"Caption\" and tom!=\"Summary\" and tom!=\"Schedule\" and tom!=\"Letter\" and dsk!=\"Travel\" and dsk!=\"Escapes\" and dsk!=\"Dining\" and dsk!=\"Fashion\" and dsk!=\"Fashions\" and dsk!=\"Style\" and dsk!=\"Styles\" and dsk!=\"Society\" and dsk!=\"Home\" and dsk!=\"Home\/Style\" and dsk!=\"Living\" and dsk!=\"Beauty\" and dsk!=\"Design\" and dsk!=\"Theater\" and des!=\"Theater\" and dsk!=\"Movies\" and des!=\"Motion Pictures\" and des!=\"Movies\" and dsk!=\"Great Homes and Destinations\"\n","search_query":"(glocations.contains:\"North Korea\" OR glocations.contains:\"\\(North Korea\\)\") AND -type_of_material:\"Editorial\" AND -type_of_material:\"Correction\" AND -type_of_material:\"Obituary\" AND -type_of_material:\"paid death notice\" AND -headline:\"paid notice\" AND -type_of_material:\"Caption\" AND -type_of_material:\"Summary\" AND -type_of_material:\"Schedule\" AND -type_of_material:\"Letter\" AND -news_desk:\"Travel\" AND -news_desk:\"Escapes\" AND -news_desk:\"Dining\" AND -news_desk:\"Fashion\" AND -news_desk:\"Fashions\" AND -news_desk:\"Style\" AND -news_desk:\"Styles\" AND -news_desk:\"Society\" AND -news_desk:\"Home\" AND -news_desk:\"Home\/Style\" AND -news_desk:\"Living\" AND -news_desk:\"Beauty\" AND -news_desk:\"Design\" AND -news_desk:\"Theater\" AND -subject:\"Theater\" AND -news_desk:\"Movies\" AND -subject:\"Motion Pictures\" AND -subject:\"Movies\" AND -news_desk:\"Great Homes and Destinations\"","num_search_articles":"30","show_summary":true,"show_byline":true,"show_pub_date":true,"hide_thumbnails":false,"show_kicker":false,"show_title":false,"show_related_topics":true,"show_rad_links":true,"show_subtopics":true,"exclude_topics":"NORTH KOREA","exclude":[""],"more_on_header":"MORE ON NORTH KOREA AND:","alternate_index_subidx":"","show_thumbnails":true}